TASSE DISTRIBUTRICE DE LIQUIDE POUR JEUNES ENFANTS

LIQUID DISPENSING CUP FOR TODDLERS

Abrégé français

Tasse (10) distributrice de liquide à utiliser par un jeune enfant, qui possède des parties supérieure (12) et inférieure (14) généralement cylindriques mises en communication fluidique par une paire de parties tubulaires (16 et 18) d'un seul tenant ou poignées. Les parties supérieure et inférieure et la paire de poignées d'un seul tenant définissent une ouverture centrale (22) à travers la tasse. Les parties tubulaires (16 et 18), en connexion avec l'ouverture centrale (22), fournissent des poignées faciles à saisir à une ou deux mains par le jeune enfant, situées près du centre de gravité de la tasse. Ladite tasse distributrice de liquide possède un couvercle (28) comportant une goulotte d'écoulement (30) moulée d'un seul tenant, en communication fluidique avec l'intérieur de la tasse afin qu'il soit possible de siroter les fluides contenus dans ladite tasse.

Abrégé anglais

A liquid dispensing cup (10) for use by a toddler is disclosed having
generally cylindrical upper (12) and lower (14) portions joined in fluid
communication by a pair of integral tubular sections (16 and 18) or handles.
The upper and lower portions and the pair of integral handles define a central
opening (22) through the cup. The tubular sections (16 and 18), in connection
with the central opening (22), provide readily grippable handles near the
center of gravity of the cup for the toddler to grasp with one or both hands.
The liquid dispensing cup has a closure (28) including an integrally molded
spout (30) in fluid communication with the interior of the cup to provide for
sipping of fluids contained within the cup.

Revendications

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CLAIMS
1. A liquid dispenser comprising an integrally molded
plastic liquid container (10) having generally cylindrical
upper and lower portions (12, 14), the upper and lower
portions (12, 14) being joined in fluid communication by
a pair of integrally connected and longitudinally
extending tubular sections (16, 18), the upper and lower
portions (12, 14) and the pair of tubular sections (16,
18) defining a central opening (22) through the container
(10) and a plastic closure (28) removably engageable with
the container upper,portion (12) characterised in that the
dispenser is a dispensing cup for use by a toddler, the
container being a cup (10), in that the tubular sections
(16, 18) are sized to be easily grasped by a toddler
during use of the cup and in that the closure (28) has an
integrally molded spout (30) for fluid communication with
the interior of the cup (10) for sipping fluid contained
therein, the plastic cup (10) and closure spout (30)
enabling the toddler's transition from the baby bottle
with a nipple to an ordinary cup.
2. A liquid dispensing cup as claimed in Claim 1 wherein
each of the tubular sections (16, 18) has a
circumferential dimension of lesser extent proximate a
midpoint of the central opening (22) than at the
connection of each of the tubular portions (16, 18) with
the upper and lower portions (12, 14).

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3. A liquid dispensing cup as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the
closure (28) is a screw-type cap and the cup upper portion includes a screw
formation (32) integrally molded therein for cooperation with the closure (28)
whereby a fluid seal is formed between the cup and the closure.
4. A liquid dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the
closure (28) is a spill-proof type closure.
5. A liquid dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
closure (28) is non-vented.
6. A liquid dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the
integrally molded spout (30) extends upwardly adjacent the periphery of the
closure (28).
7. A liquid dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the
spout (30) is contoured to facilitate sipping of fluid by a toddler.
8. A liquid dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the
plastic cup (10) and closure (28) are made of polyethylene or polycarbonate.

Description

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L)~UID DISPENSING CUP FOR TODDLERS
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in liquid
dispensing cups and, more particularly, to a cup and closure
combination for use by a toddler during transition from a baby bottle
with a nipple.
Background of the Invention
Liquid dispensing cups' for use by toddlers are well known
in the art. These cups, typically known as "sipper cups" in the baby
care industry, are used for dispensing liquids, such as milk, juice or the
like, to toddlers after or during transition by the toddler from a baby
bottle with a nipple. Typically, known "sipper cups" include a generally
cylindrical body of greater diameter than a baby bottle and, sometimes,
at least one handle extending outwardly from the body of the cup. The
external handle or handles of known "sipper cup" designs enabCe
' ~ 15 handling of the cup by the small hands of a toddler. Moreover, known
"sipper cups" for use by toddlers generally include a closure secured to

CA 02235682 1998-04-23
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an upper portion of the cup to prevent spillage of liquid contained'
within the cup.
While presently available "sipper cup" designs are sized or
provide external handles for grasping of the cup by the toddler, it will
be appreciated that toddlers have a tendency to ignore the handles as
they attempt to grasp the cylindrical body of the cup. Furthermore, the
larger diameter of "sipper cups" compared to the smaller diameter of
baby bottles makes handling of the cups awkward for the small hands
of a toddler. Moreover, when the toddler does use the handles, the
handles of known "sipper cup" designs move the toddler's hand away
from the center of gravity of the cup, thus adding to handling difficulty
in view of the toddler's reduced muscle development and motor skills.
U.S. Patent 4750630 describes a baby bottle
formed with a central opening defined by two tubular
sections connecting upper and lower cylindrical portions,
the sections being grippable by a baby.
G.B. Application No. 2029379 describes an infant
feeder comprising a cylindrical lid having an integral
sport and engageable with a feeding bottle.
While improvements have been made in the design of baby
bottles to facilitate handling thereof, such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent
No.4,750,630 mentioned above, there exists a need for a
"sipper cup" design which eases a toddler's transition from the baby
bottle to an ordinary cup or glass.
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Summary of the Invention
To these ends, the present invention is directed to a liquid
dispensing cup for use by a toddler. The cup includes a central opening
through the cup and a pair of tubular portions which are sized to be
easily grasped by the toddler. The central opening through the cup, in
connection with the tubular portions, provides a balanced feel to the
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cup when it is either partially or fully filled as the toddler's hands are
positioned near the center of gravity of the cup. Thus, the liquid
dispensing cup of the present invention overcomes many disadvantages
currently associated with available "sipper cup" designs.
The liquid dispensing cup includes an integrally molded
plastic cup having generally cylindrical upper and lower portions joined
in fluid communication by a pair of tubular sections. The upper and
lower portions and the pair of integral sections or handles define the
central opening through the cup. The tubular sections, in connection
with the central opening, thus provide readily grippable handles on the
cup for the toddler to grasp with one or both hands.
A closure having an integrally molded spout in fluid
communication with the interior of the cup is provided for sipping fluids
contained within the cup. The closure is preferably a screw-type cap
which cooperates with a screw formation integrally molded in the upper
portion of the cup to provide a fluid seal between the cup and the
closure. In its preferred form, the closure is a "spill-proof" type closure
to prevent spillage of liquids contained within the liquid dispensing cup.
brief Desc~jption of the Drawina~_s
These and other modifications and advantages will become
even more readily apparent from the following detailed description of
a preferred embodiment of the invention, and from the drawings in
which:

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Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a liquid dispensing cup in accordance
with the principles of the present invention with a portion thereof shown in
cross-
section for purposes of illustration; and
Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1 with a portion thereof shown in cross-section.
Detailed Description of the Invention
' With reference to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, a liquid
dispensing cup for use by a toddler is shown in accordance with the present
invention. An integrally molded cup 10, preferably made of plastic, such as
polyethylene or polycarbonate, and having generally cylindrical upper and
lower
portions 12 and 14, respectively, is provided to hold liquid for dispensing to
the
toddler as described in more detail below. As shown in the figures, the upper
and
lower portions 12 and 14 of the cup 10 are joined in fluid communication by a
pair
of integrally connected and longitudinally extending tubular sections or
handles
16 and 18 disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the cup. In this
way,
liquid introduced into an opening defined by a peripheral lip 20 about upper
portion 12 is free to travel through tubular portions 16 and 18 and fill the
upper
and lower portions 12 and 14 of the cup. In its preferred form, 'the cup 10 is
designed to hold between about 170.1 and 226.8 g (six and eight ounces) of
liquid
while other forms of the cup may hold more or less liquid as desired.

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As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the' upper and lower
-portions 12 and 14, and the tubular portions 16 and 18, define a
central opening 22 through the integrally molded cup 10. The central
opening 22 is generally elongated, although this is not required, and is
preferably located near the center of gravity of the cup to provide a
balanced container when it is either partially or fully filled.
In accordance with the invention, the tubular portions 16
and 18 are sized to be easily grasped by a toddler during use of the
liquid dispensing cup. Preferably, the tubular portions 16 and 18 have
a smaller circumferential diameter near the midpoint of the central
opening 22, shown generally as portions 24 and 26 in the figures, than
the circumferential diameter of the tubular portions at their connections
with the upper and lower portions 12 and 14. The tubular portions 16
and 18 of the liquid dispensing cup, in combination with the central
opening 22, thus provide readily grippable handles near the center of
gravity of the cup for the toddler to hold with one or both hands.
The liquid dispensing cup of the present invention further
includes a closure 28 removably engageable with the upper portion 12.
The closure 28 preferably includes an integrally molded spout 30 in
fluid communication with the interior of the cup. In its preferred form,
the cup includes a screw formation, shown generally at 32, integrally
molded about the upper portion 12 of the cup at or below the peripheral
lip 20. In this configuration, the closure 28 has a cooperating screw

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formation (not shown) integrally molded therein to provide a fluid seal
between the
cup 10 and the closure 28 when the closure is fully tightened abaut the upper
portion 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other structures are
available for joining the cup 10 and closure 28.
The closure 28 of the present invention is preferably a "spill-proof" type
closure having the design details fully described in U.S. Patents 4,795,052
and
. . .4,915,250. It will be recognized that "spill-proof" closures of the type
disclosed
herein are particularly advantageous for use in combination with the cup 10 of
the
present invention as liquid contained within the cup is generally dispensed
only
upon a sucking action by the toddler user. When the liquid dispensing cup is
in
a horizontal position, such as if it were accidentally knocked on its side, or
if the
cup is violently shaken by the toddler, the spill-proof closure 28 will
prevent liquid
from exiting the cup through the spout 30.
In its preferred form, the closure 28 is non-vented, i.e., the closure
includes one or more apertures through the spout 30 through which liquid is
dispersed without having a second "venting" aperture through the closure. As
shown in Figures 1-2, the spout 30 extends upwardly from closure 28 adjacent
its
periphery and the spout 30 is

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contoured to facilitate sipping by a toddler. In this way
the elimination of a second "venting" aperture greatly
improves the "spill-proof" capability of the closure. It
will be appreciated that other types of closures, with or
without spill-proof capability, are readily adaptable for
use with the liquid dispensing cup of the present
invention.
In view of the above description, it will be
apparent that the present invention provides a novel
liquid dispensing cup with integral handles for use by
toddlers during the transition from a baby bottle with a
nipple.
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